Hand cleaning device



Jan. 29, 1963 R. B. PARKER 3,075,221

HAND CLEANING DEVICE Filed June 1, 1961 FIG. 4

INVENTOR.

ROBERT B. PARKER fiu w Wag ATTORNEYS,

United States Patent Office 3,075,221 Patented Jan. 29, 1963 3,075,221 HAND CLEAINLNG DEVIEE Robert B. Parker, Plainfield Pike, North Scitnate, R1. Filed June 1, 1961, Ser. No. 114,080 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-176) This invention relates to a hand tool for cleaning purposes and is particularly adapted for use in cleaning a typewriter.

In the use of certain office machinery such -for instance as a typewriter, eraser particles and other foreign matter may accumulate in and about the typewriter, and it is desired that the same be cleaned, such for instance as, by brushing and while the type bars themselves may be brushed frequently, it is desired that some other means be utilized for cleaning the type bars.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide an easily assembled cleaning device which may take the form of a brush, the cleaning unit of which may be detached and replaced as occasion may require.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device having a separable cleaning unit which may be easily de tached or repositioned or a difierent one substituted in a simple and inexpensive manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide a firm assembly when the cleaning unit and bolder therefor are attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device in which the cleaning unit may be detached and other forms of cleaning units may be substituted.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cleaning device;

FIGURE 2 is a side view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view substantially through the center of the device at the lower part but showing the handle in full and broken;

FIGURE 4 is a central section taken at substantially right angles to the section of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the cleaning unit in the form of a brush.

In proceeding with this invention I have provided a holder which may be molded into the shape shown and which will have suflicient resilience to be flexed and receive a cleaning unit therein in a detachable manner. The cleaning unit may take several forms but in the par ticular construction here shown a brush is illustrated.

With reference to the drawings, designates the hold er which comprises essentially a top wall 11 which in this case is arcuate in form and has a handle 12 extending upwardly from this top wall. The handle is recessed as: at 13 and 14 on opposite sides so as to provide a space into which different cards carrying printed matter may be inserted.

Extending downwardly from the ends of the arcuate top wall 11, there are end walls 15 and 16 both of which are an integral part of the top wall and handle. This whole unit may be molded from some suitable resin as desired. Openings 17 and 18 are provided in these opposite end walls 15 and 16, and adjacent to the openings there is an outwardly extending rib 19 on each of the opposite end walls which serves a strengthening function.

The cleaning unit is designated generally 20 is shown in perspective in FIGURE 5. This unit has a block-like body 21 into which two lines of bristles 22 and 23 are inserted in substantially parallel sockets. This block is provided with trunnions 24 and 25 which project from the ends 26 and 27 of the block a distance substantially the thickness of the end walls 15 and 16. These trunnions enter the openings 17 and 18, and as shown in FIGURE 4 their ends are substantially flush with the outer surface of the end walls 15 and 16 while the inner surface of the end walls contact the ends of this cleaning block. The upper portion of the block is reduced as at 28 in a dimension which is axial of the trunnions 24 and 25. Wings 30 and 31 extend from the opposite sides of this block at its upper edge and are provided with lips 32 and 33 which engage the rounded edges 34 and 35 of the arcuate top wall 11. Thus there is provided substantially a threepoint support for the cleaning unit 20 by reason of the trunnions engaging the holes 17 and 18 and the wings with their lips engaging at spaced apart edges of the top wall 11. The relative distances are such that when the trunnions are in place in their openings 17 and 18, the wings will be in snug engagement with both edges 34 and 35 of the top wall 11.

If it is desired to release the cleaning unit 20 from its holder, it is merely necessary to spread apart the relatively flexible side walls 15 and 16 a distance sufiicient to release the trunnions when the unit may be removed from position. A substitute unit may be placed in position if desired by merely inserting the trunnions between the side walls and sliding them into position in registry with the openings where they will snap into place.

I claim:

1. A cleaning device comprising a holder having a top wall and spaced end walls with openings therein, said end walls being capable of being flexed apart and having a handle extending from the top wall, a cleaning unit having a body of a size closely fitting between said end walls and provided with trunnions entering said openings, said trunnions being of a length to be released by separation of the end walls, wings projecting from said body in opposite directions engaging said top wall at locations on either side of a line between said handle and said trunnion gecgeiving openings and cleaning means carried by said 2. A cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein said wings are provided with lips to extend over the edge of said top wall.

3. A cleaning device as in claim 1 wherein said cleaning means comprises bristles extending therefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,648,083 Chesney et al. Aug. 11, 1953 

1. A CLEANING DEVICE COMPRISING A HOLDER HAVING A TOP WALL AND SPACED END WALLS WITH OPENINGS THEREIN, SAID END WALLS BEING CAPABLE OF BEING FLEXED APART AND HAVING A HANDLE EXTENDING FROM THE TOP WALL, A CLEANING UNIT HAVING A BODY OF A SIZE CLOSELY FITTING BETWEEN SAID END WALLS AND PROVIDED WITH TRUNNIONS ENTERING SAID OPENINGS, SAID TRUNNIONS BEING OF A LENGTH TO BE RELEASED BY SEPARATION 